I don’t know why it is, but cows kill koalas.
It is not just in Gippsland. Farmers need to be aware of the danger to koalas. Cows will circle and trample to death a koala traversing ‘cow’ territory.
Perhaps it is the male’s bellow that draws the cows’ attention, or the walk of a koala as mentioned in this video. Regardless, the issue of ‘killer cows’ is real.
"I've had a joey come in after being found sitting on the back of a cow," said Colleen Wood, who runs the Southern Ash Wildlife Shelter, where Sam the Black Saturday survivor lived.
"Its mother has been killed on the ground and the joey has climbed up the closest thing to her body, which happened to be one of the killer cows," she said.
"I've seen them with every rib broken, with head injuries, with every organ ruptured," Ms Wood said. "One cow will see a koala and call the others over and they all trample and butt it. The poor koala has got nowhere to go and stands there stranded and takes it," she said. (Herald Sun, November 16, 2011)
Please watch the video below.
Check the KoalaTracker map for koalas in your area. Report all sightings to KoalaTracker to make your community aware.
Farmers, take note of your herd’s behaviour. Rescue any koalas in danger of or subsequent to cow encounters, as they may have internal injuries if not obvious ones.
Contact your local wildlife rescue organisation immediately.
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